Norbayah Mohd Suki

Consumption values and consumer environmental concern regarding green products

This study applied the partial least squares (PLS) approach using the SmartPLS computer program to examine the impact of consumption values (i.e. functional value, social value, emotional value, conditional value and epistemic value) on consumer environmental concern about green products. The views of individuals from the general public in the Federal Territory of Labuan, Malaysia, were gathered through the use of a self-administered questionnaire. This was completed by 200 respondents who adopted a green lifestyle and were committed to buying green products such as organic vegetables at least once a week. The empirical results obtained via the PLS approach revealed that social value had the most significant effect on consumer environmental concerns regarding green products. This finding showed the significant influence of peer opinion on individuals’ acceptance of green products and their impressions when purchasing such products. The next important factor is the epistemic value related to the purchasing of green products. The results of this study provided novel insights into consumer environmental concern regarding green products within the Malaysian context. In addition, the study provides important information for companies in encouraging them to emphasize the social and epistemic value of their products in order to boost consumer environmental concern related to green products and sustainable development. The results from this study could be used to assist manufacturers in producing green products that will be attractive to consumers.This study applied the partial least squares (PLS) approach using the SmartPLS computer program to examine the impact of consumption values (i.e. functional value, social value, emotional value, conditional value and epistemic value) on consumer environmental concern about green products. The views of individuals from the general public in the Federal Territory of Labuan, Malaysia, were gathered through the use of a self-administered questionnaire. This was completed by 200 respondents who adopted a green lifestyle and were committed to buying green products such as organic vegetables at least once a week. The empirical results obtained via the PLS approach revealed that social value had the most significant effect on consumer environmental concerns regarding green products. This finding showed the significant influence of peer opinion on individuals’ acceptance of green products and their impressions when purchasing such products. The next important factor is the epistemic value related to the purchasing...

Factors Enhancing Employed Job Seekers Intentions to Use Social Networking Sites as a Job Search Tool

This paper explores the factors of enhancing employed job seekers intention to use social networking sites as a job search tool. 190 survey questionnaires were distributed to employed job seekers who have used social networking sites via the snowball sampling approach. The collected data were analysed using both linear and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment are positively and significantly related to the behavioural intention to use social networking sites as a job search tool, whereas perceived ease of use is not positively and significantly related. The study implies that the developers of social networking sites need to provide additional useful functionalities or tools in the social networking sites to help users of social networking sites with their job search. The paper provides an insight for employed jobseekers to find employment by using social networking sites as a job search tool.

A Comparison of Human Elements and Nonhuman Elements in Private Health Care Settings: Customers’ Perceptions and Expectations

In todays highly competitive health care environment, many private health care settings are now looking into customer service indicators to learn customers’ perceptions and determine whether they are meeting customers’ expectations in order to ensure that their customers are satisfied with the services. This research paper aims to investigate whether the human elements were more important than the nonhuman elements in private health care settings. We used the internationally renowned SERVQUAL five-dimension model plus three additional dimensions—courtesy, communication, and understanding of customers of the human element—when evaluating health care services. A total of 191 respondents from three private health care settings in the Klang Valley region of Malaysia were investigated. Descriptive statistics were calculated by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer program, version 15. Interestingly, the results suggested that customers nowadays have very high expectations especially when it comes to the treatment they are receiving. Overall, the research indicated that the human elements were more important than the nonhuman element in private health care settings. Hospital management should look further to improve on areas that have been highlighted. Implications for management practice and directions for future research are discussed.

Consumers environmental behaviour towards staying at a Green Hotel: moderation of Green Hotel knowledge

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between returning consumer environmental behaviour and tourists’ propensity to stay in a green hotel, particularly in the Malaysian context. Next, the influence of a moderating variable (i.e. green hotel knowledge) on returning tourists’ propensity to stay in a green hotel is also examined. Design/methodology/approach – The research used a hierarchical regression for data analysis across a sample of 400 young respondents who stayed at a green hotel at least once in a year. Their participation was purely voluntary. Findings – Empirical analysis via hierarchical regressions confirmed that returning tourists’ intention to stay at a green hotel was influenced positively by perceived behavioural control and attitude. However, the subjective norm was found to be not significantly related to returning tourists’ intention to stay at a green hotel. Research limitations/implications – The current data were only collected from respondents within one ...

User Acceptance on Mobile Apps as an Effective Medium to Learn Kadazandusun Language

Abstract The popularity of mobile applications (mobile apps) is undeniable where it allows people to perform several tasks through the use of smartphones, tablets or corresponding devices. Regardless of the great benefits in terms of innovation, the fast and nonstop growth of the mobile market has caused in some division of the platforms that support mobile device as an ideal platform for language learning applications for dominant languages such as English, Spanish and French in a fun and interactive devices. However, studies have yet to be conducted on the use of mobile technology in learning Kadazandusun language. Indeed, no empirical evidence of user acceptance on mobile apps as an effective medium to learn Kadazandusun language and demand a new study on how mobile technology such as mobile apps can help in preserving the language. Therefore, this conceptual paper discusses the user acceptance of the potentiality of mobile apps as an effective medium to learn Kadazandusun language, guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). It is proposed that the users’ acceptance of using mobile apps in learning Kadazandusun language is influenced with their perceived usefulness of the mobile apps and their perceived ease of mobile apps use, which in turn influence their attitude towards mobile app usage and behavioral intention to use. Additional variables to the model includes content richness, user satisfaction, and perceived playfulness. Direction for future research is also presented.

Impacts of Corporate Social Responsibility on the Links Between Green Marketing Awareness and Consumer Purchase Intentions

This study examines the mediating roles of corporate social responsibility on the links between green marketing awareness and consumer purchase intentions. Data was analyzed using the partial least squares (PLS) approach for the analysis of structural equation models with SmartPLS computer program version 2.0. PLS results revealed that corporate social responsibility partially mediated the link between green marketing awareness and purchase intentions of the product. Consumers develop positive green marketing awareness based on the growing environmental knowledge. They were aware of the green marketing program of the retail store when they noticed that the store allocated specified space to sell eco-friendly products. Furthermore, the companies make their green marketing activities known to the publics by distributing eco-friendly fliers which helps to increase sales revenue, raise consumer awareness, and develop greater intention to purchase the products. The outcomes of the mediating effects of this study add a new momentum to the growing literature and preceding discoveries on consumer green marketing awareness, which is inadequately researched in the Malaysian setting.

Does religion influence consumers’ green food consumption? Some insights from Malaysia

Purpose – This paper aims to examine whether Muslim and non-Muslim consumers give different importance to green food consumption. Design/methodology/approach – Data were analysed using means comparison and multiple discriminant analysis across a sample of 700 students in a public higher learning institution in the Federal Territory of Labuan, Malaysia, using the convenience sampling technique. Findings – Empirical results via multiple discriminant analysis discovered that imperative aspects such as specific needs, personal environmental values related to green food and governmental efforts strongly predict discrimination towards green food consumption among the non-Muslim consumers. Muslim consumers follow a strict diet that complies with religious dietary laws. Practical implications – Understanding Muslim and non-Muslim consumers’ awareness of and intentions towards green food consumption is very important for any manager in the food industry or food market, as it is critical that the food they produce ...

Consumer Intention to Use Anti-Spyware Software: An Application of Structural Equation Modeling

Awareness of the importance to install anti-spyware software in ones computer has increased in this digital world. This research aims to investigate the relationship between relative advantage, moral compatibility, ease of use, subjective norms, image, computing capacity, perceived cost, and trialability, and the consumer intention to use the anti-spyware software. Data was coded and analyzed in the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) computerized software version 21 and analyzed by means of Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Next, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique via Analysis of Moment Structure (AMOS) computer program version 21 was used for data analysis in order to achieve the research objective. Results validated the hypotheses and revealed that five vital factors: Ease of use, relative advantage, image, perceived cost, and moral compatibility influenced consumer intention to use the anti-spyware software. The ease of use dimension has the greatest impact on consumer intention to use the anti-spyware software. The developers of the anti-virus software or the software development companies should specifically target the right target groups, in terms of its market segmentation, targeting, and positioning, to boost up consumer awareness and deployment of the anti-spyware software. This research brings implication in terms of it does help the researchers and IT professionals to understand factors that influence consumer intention to use anti-spyware software.

Modelling Factors Influencing Early Adopters' Purchase Intention Towards Online Music

The Internet is an incredible technology, offering users a vast choice of new songs and catalogue that can be browsed, streamed or bought online. This paper aims to provide an explanation of factors influencing purchase intention of early adopters towards online music. An empirical survey was used to test the hypotheses. Data were collected from a total of 200 questionnaires distributed to early adopters of online music and were analysed using Structural Equation Modeling SEM via the Analysis of Moment Structure AMOS 16 computer program. Results enumerate that perceived ease of use emerges as the important factor which affects perceived value among the respondents followed by perceived playfulness. Perceived value has the only significant impact on the purchase intentions towards online music. The paper rounds off with conclusions and an agenda for future research in this area.

Effects of Social Needs, Social Influences and Convenience on Smartphones Dependency

This study aims to examine the effect of social needs, social influences and convenience of smartphone on students’ dependency on smartphones. A total of 200 completed and usable questionnaires were received from the respondents which comprises of students from one of the public higher institution in Federal Territory of Labuan, Malaysia by utilizing simple random sampling method. Results via the analysis of structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that all proposed hypotheses were supported. Social needs were found to be the strongest effect. Students heavily and actively use smartphone to stay connected with friends and family through social networking web sites such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and etc. Smartphone allow them to stay connected with those they care about. Based on the findings, the implications are discussed in the paper and directions for future research are also highlighted.